Gilded Age Politics

15.3

Political Machine

• Informal group of politicians who controlled local governments

• Often Corrupt• Believed in the SPOILS SYSTEM:– Giving political positions to friends/supporters

LOCAL Corruption

• Election fraud– Having people vote twice in costumes

• Bribes/Payoffs– Took and offered money to officials to look the other

way• Exploited certain groups– Gave immigrants benefits in return for their vote

when naturalized• Scandals– Tweed ring pocketed millions after lying about the

cost of a court house

Federal Corruption

• Ulysses S. Grant Administration Scandals– 1869 Credit Mobilier• construction company that was set up to funnel money

to directors of Union Pacific Railroad• stocks were also given to top government officials

– 1875 Whiskey Ring• Grant’s private secretary and VP were involved in a

company that kept whiskey taxes that were supposed to go to the Federal Treasury

HAYES for President

• 1877 Rutherford B. Hayes calls for REFORM– Prohibited government employees from managing

political parties and campaigns

Garfield Carries the Torch

• 1880 James A. Garfield is elected – continues Hayes’ reform movement– Is assassinated in 1881 by Charles Guiteau

because he was denied a job.

Chester Arthur

• Turned against the spoils system as well• Pendleton Service Act– Promotions must be based on merit – Reduced corruption

CLIP

• As you watch the clip answer the following questions– How many scandals was Grant involved in?– What was the Salary Grab?– Why, ultimately, was this corruption “Grant’s

fault”?

– BREAK TIME

Farmers in Politics• Hardships– Crop prices were falling– Railroad companies over-charged for transporting

crops– Farmers borrowed large sums of money to

purchase farm equipment

Farmers in Politics

• National Grange– Unite farmers and regulate railroad rates

• Farmers Alliance– Formed a new political party

• Populist Party– “people’s party” to represent the common people

Cleveland and McKinley

• 1892 Grover Cleveland is elected– Economic depression– Maintained Gold Standard

• 1896 William McKinley– Also maintains GS

CLIP

• As you watch the clip answer the following questions– Who did the farmers feel was at fault for their

misfortune?

– List one of the Populist Party ideals.

– BREAKTIME